Silver Bridge in Mill Creek Park

When my sister insisted I paint the Silver Bridge for her in oils, I originally said no due to the time-consuming work required to capture its... more

by Beth Basista

Title

Silver Bridge in Mill Creek Park

Artist

Beth Basista

Medium

Painting - 18 X 24 Oil Painting On Canvas

Description

When my sister insisted I paint the "Silver Bridge" for her in oils, I originally said no due to the time-consuming work required to capture its splendor. After suggesting other beautiful scenes in the park, I gave in. I treated it like a puzzle, laying in the bridge and the road that zig zags across the canvas before moving on to the colorful background. The years I worked as a technical illustrator for a furniture manufacturer helped a lot. Although it took more hours than I want to admit, the comments generated on my personal facebook page including requests for prints along with my sister's excitement made this painting extra special.

The Silver Bridge is located on Valley Drive, in Youngstown, Ohio's Mill Creek Park. Back in 1895 the Park's founder, Volney Rogers had Charles Fowler of the Youngstown Bridge Company design the structure measuring 86 feet long x 32 feet wide. Although my family knows it as The Silver Bridge, it has also been called the Suspension Bridge, the Cinderella Bridge, the Castle Bridge, and the Walt Disney Bridge. Its lacy arches and soaring spires have provided romantic scenery for photographers and artists.

Special thanks to the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, Youngstown State University, the Ohio Historic Preservation office and others who coordinate a restoration project in 2007 bringing it to its original splendor.

Uploaded

February 3rd, 2020